Music Activities for Dementia

Overseen By Aaron Colverson, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Must not be taking: Antidepressants

Disqualifiers: Schizophrenia, Severe diabetes, Others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 2 weeks

80 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is an exploratory mixed-methods control-treatment study to evaluate if participation in rhythmic musical activities improves social attention and connectedness in individuals living with mild to moderate bvFTD and AD, and their caregivers. Secondary objectives include evaluating the potential relationships between brain networks associated with rhythm production, social attention, and connectedness in these populations.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, individuals with medicated depression to control symptoms are excluded, which might suggest some restrictions. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Solo Rhythm Production, Synchronous Rhythm Production for dementia?

Research shows that music-based activities can help maintain cognitive and emotional functions in people with dementia. Specifically, music interventions like singing and listening have been found to improve memory and mood, especially in those with mild to moderate dementia. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is music therapy safe for people with dementia?

Music therapy appears to be safe for people with dementia, as studies show it can reduce agitation and improve social behaviors without any reported harmful effects. It may also help reduce the need for certain medications, like antipsychotics, in hospital settings. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

How does the treatment 'Solo Rhythm Production, Synchronous Rhythm Production' for dementia differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it uses music and rhythm to engage patients with dementia, focusing on their ability to synchronize movements with rhythmic patterns. Unlike traditional treatments, it leverages live music performance to enhance socioemotional and motor responses, which can be particularly beneficial for patients with varying stages of neurocognitive disorders. ^{4 10 11 12 13}

Research Team

Aaron Colverson, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with mild to moderate behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) or Alzheimer's Disease, and their caregivers. Participants should be able to engage in musical activities. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria details are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Caregivers: Written informed consent

Patients: Written informed consent obtained from subject

I am over 55 and do not have any neurological or psychiatric conditions.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients: Individuals with a score of 2 or higher on the CDR

I have Alzheimer's or a related dementia condition.

Patients: Community-dwelling individuals not living with bvFTD

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in rhythmic musical activities to assess social attention and connectedness

2 weeks

Multiple sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in social attention and connectedness after treatment

4 weeks

Data Analysis

Analysis of collected data including MRI and interview data to evaluate relationships between rhythm production, social attention, and connectedness

Up to 24 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Solo Rhythm Production
• Synchronous Rhythm Production

Trial Overview The study explores whether rhythmic musical activities like solo and synchronous rhythm production can improve social attention and feelings of connectedness in patients with bvFTD or AD, as well as their caregivers.

Participant Groups

Group I: Synchronous Rhythm Production Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The treatment group will take part in a dyad-based musical rhythm production activity facilitated by a trained musician. This activity will involve two rhythm conditions. The first condition requires tapping along to one pre-recorded audio track composed of an ensemble of Brazilian percussion instruments. The second condition requires tapping along with prerecorded audio tracks of rhythms progressively increasing in difficulty. Participants who indicate proficiency in learning to tap along in both conditions will be able to progress to more complex rhythms. All tapping data will be gathered through a Roland digital hand percussion controller.

Group II: Solo Rhythm Production Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to the control condition will complete the same rhythm conditions to the same recorded audio tracks described in the experimental condition. However, they will not interchange their tapping with their caregiver. They will participate in the rhythm task as a solo producer.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Findings from Research

In a study involving 11 patients with Alzheimer's disease, response-related music stimulation led to higher levels of positive participation, such as singing and smiling, in 6 out of the 11 patients compared to general music stimulation.

The findings suggest that incorporating active music response activities could be beneficial in daily programs for patients with Alzheimer's, particularly for enhancing engagement and emotional responses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of response-related music stimulation versus general music stimulation on positive participation of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Lancioni, GE., Bosco, A., De Caro, MF., et al.[2018]

Music therapy is a valuable tool for individuals with dementia, as it leverages intact long-term musical memory to improve recall and cognitive function, particularly through sung texts.

Combining exercise with music, such as through dance, enhances cognitive abilities and improves balance and gait safety in dementia patients, suggesting a holistic approach to care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music and exercise as therapeutic resources in dementia]. Kressig, RW.[2023]

In a study involving 89 dementia patients and their caregivers, a 10-week music coaching intervention showed that singing improved working memory in patients with mild dementia and helped maintain executive function in younger patients.

Music listening supported general cognition and quality of life in patients with moderate dementia not caused by Alzheimer's disease, while both interventions reduced depression in patients with mild dementia and Alzheimer's.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical and Demographic Factors Associated with the Cognitive and Emotional Efficacy of Regular Musical Activities in Dementia. Särkämö, T., Laitinen, S., Numminen, A., et al.[2022]

Patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorders (NCD) showed a significant decrease in positive emotional responses to music compared to those with Mild NCD or No NCD, indicating that the severity of cognitive decline negatively impacts emotional engagement with music.

Motor responses, measured through sensorimotor synchronization (SMS), were less precise in Major NCD patients when tapping to a metronome, but improved with live music, highlighting the importance of live performances for enhancing engagement in this group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of the severity of neurocognitive disorders on emotional and motor responses to music. Hobeika, L., Ghilain, M., Schiaratura, L., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 28 late-stage dementia patients, rhythmic auditory stimulation (with or without music) did not show statistically significant improvements in gait characteristics like cadence, velocity, or stride length compared to no auditory stimulus.

However, observations suggested that using rhythmic auditory stimulation may reduce the assistive burden on caregivers, indicating potential benefits for both patients and caregivers that warrant further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on gait characteristics of cadence, velocity, and stride length in persons with late stage dementia. Clair, AA., O'Konski, M.[2022]

A ten-week study involving 85 patients with dementia in a UK hospital showed that weekly music sessions improved patient wellbeing and reduced the prescription of antipsychotic drugs, suggesting a positive impact on care quality.

The effectiveness of music as an intervention was influenced by staff responses and hospital organization, indicating that successful implementation requires supportive environments and engagement from healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of participatory music making in supporting people with dementia in hospital environments. Daykin, N., Parry, B., Ball, K., et al.[2018]

In a study involving 22 nursing home residents with dementia, playing soothing music during mealtimes for 4 weeks significantly reduced agitation levels, indicating its potential as a non-pharmacological intervention.

The research showed both a cumulative effect over time and a short-term lingering effect on agitation, suggesting that music can have lasting benefits beyond the immediate mealtime context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of researcher-composed music at mealtime on agitation in nursing home residents with dementia. Ho, SY., Lai, HL., Jeng, SY., et al.[2011]

In a study involving 28 Alzheimer's patients, playing familiar background music significantly increased positive social behaviors and decreased negative behaviors related to agitation.

The findings suggest that music therapy can enhance overall functioning and well-being in elderly patients with dementia, even during unstructured times.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of background stimulative music on behavior in Alzheimer's patients. Ziv, N., Granot, A., Hai, S., et al.[2019]

Musical interventions can significantly enhance socio-emotional and cognitive functioning in Alzheimer's patients, especially when their motor skills are engaged, suggesting a non-drug treatment option with potential benefits.

Patients showed better rhythmic movement responses to music compared to a metronome, but their accuracy in synchronizing movements was higher with the metronome, indicating that the type of auditory stimulus and the presence of a musician (live vs. video) can influence engagement and performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sensorimotor synchronisation and non-verbal behaviours in Alzheimer's disease: the influence of social and musical contexts. Ghilain, M., Hobeika, L., Schiaratura, L., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 15 individuals with early to middle-stage Alzheimer's disease, specific musical instruments significantly influenced rhythmic accuracy, with the djembe being the most effective for eliciting responses, indicating its potential therapeutic value.

In a second experiment with 10 individuals in later stages of Alzheimer's, a cappella singing led to the highest participation rates (63%), suggesting that engaging activities like singing can enhance involvement in therapy sessions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Value of musical instruments used by the therapist to elicit responses from individuals in various stages of Alzheimer's disease. Cevasco, AM., Grant, RE.[2019]

Sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) remains a relatively well-preserved skill in older adults and those with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), although tapping speed tends to decrease with age.

Older adults and individuals with NCDs may show lower regularity and precision in synchronizing to slow rhythmic sequences, likely due to the reliance on attention and working memory, which are affected by changes in the brain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sensorimotor Synchronization in Healthy Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders. von Schnehen, A., Hobeika, L., Huvent-Grelle, D., et al.[2022]

The study involved 58 participants, including young adults, healthy older adults, and older adults with mild dementia, and found that cognitive decline significantly affects timing accuracy in bimanual coordination tasks, such as instrument playing.

Younger adults demonstrated better synchronization and less variability in timing errors compared to older adults, indicating that cognitive processing speed declines with age, which may impact their ability to coordinate movements to rhythmic cues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Age-Related Changes in Bimanual Instrument Playing with Rhythmic Cueing. Kim, SJ., Cho, SR., Yoo, GE.[2020]

Active music-making interventions have a small but statistically significant positive effect on cognitive functioning in older adults with probable mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, based on a meta-analysis of 21 studies involving 1472 participants.

The review also found that music-making significantly improves emotional well-being, with effect sizes indicating enhanced quality of life and mood, suggesting that these interventions can be beneficial for both cognitive and emotional health in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of music participation for mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dorris, JL., Neely, S., Terhorst, L., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of response-related music stimulation versus general music stimulation on positive participation of patients with Alzheimer's disease. [2018]

2. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music and exercise as therapeutic resources in dementia]. [2023]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical and Demographic Factors Associated with the Cognitive and Emotional Efficacy of Regular Musical Activities in Dementia. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of the severity of neurocognitive disorders on emotional and motor responses to music. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on gait characteristics of cadence, velocity, and stride length in persons with late stage dementia. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of participatory music making in supporting people with dementia in hospital environments. [2018]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of researcher-composed music at mealtime on agitation in nursing home residents with dementia. [2011]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of background stimulative music on behavior in Alzheimer's patients. [2019]

9. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sensorimotor synchronisation and non-verbal behaviours in Alzheimer's disease: the influence of social and musical contexts. [2021]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Value of musical instruments used by the therapist to elicit responses from individuals in various stages of Alzheimer's disease. [2019]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sensorimotor Synchronization in Healthy Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders. [2022]

12. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Age-Related Changes in Bimanual Instrument Playing with Rhythmic Cueing. [2020]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of music participation for mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]